Bathing suit



June 5, 1928.

H. J. KNAPP BATHING SUIT Filed Aug. 8, 1927 )Yewerflfi'na 0 mm BY W ATTORNEY Patented June 5, 1928.-

UNITED STATES HERBERT 0'. mm, OF AKRON, OHIO.

BATHING SUIT.

Application flied August 8, 1927. Serial N0. 211,447.

present invention has reference to a bathing suit that is particularly designed for use by ladies, and an object is the provision of an article of this class constructed of rubberized silk or cotton stockinette having a rubber facing, and also having integrally formed with the body portion of the suit a skirt whose lower edge is folded upon itself and connected to provide a tubular inflatable chamber, together with valve means of a simple but novel construction threaded to permit of the user of the suit inflating the chamber and for sustaining the said chamber inflated.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood the improvement consists in the improved construction of bathing suits hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of my improved bathing suit.

Figure 2 is a detail elevation to illustrate the valve for the inflatable chamber.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view throu h the skirt portion of the suit approximate y on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

The body portion. 1 of the bathing suit is integrally formed with trunks, disclosed by the dotted lines in Figure 1 and indicated by the numeral 2. The rubberized material constituting the suit at the waist thereof, is formed with a skirt extension 3 which normally covers the trunks 2. The skirt 3, at its outer end is folded upon itself and the said. folded portion is cemented to the .inner face of the skirt. This fold provides the lower ed e or bottom of the skirt with a substantialfly tubular inflatable chamber 4. The chamber on its outer face approximately, at the center thereof, has an opening therethrough, but passing throng? this y ru opening there is a flexible, prefera ber tube 5. The inner end of the tube 5 is flanged to provide the same with a disclike portion 6 and this disc-like portion is cemented or otherwise eifectively secured to the inner face of the outer wall provided by the chamber 4. Above the opemn there is secured on the outer face of the 0 d constituting the chamber 4 they ends of the rubher strap 7 and between this strap and the chamber the tube 5 is,pro 'ected when the skirt portion 3 of the bathing suit is drawn upwardly over the trunk portion thereof so that the tube may be received in the mouth of the user of the suit and air forced there through to inflate the tubular chamber 4. After the chamber is inflated the tube is folded upon itself, as disclosed by Figure 3 of the drawings and arranged beneath the strap 7. The inflating chamber will stretch the strap so that the same will exert a tight pressure or frictional engagement against the tube and thereby prevent the escape of air through said tube. The strap 7 is covered by a rubber rosette or other ornamental figure 8.

My improved bathing suit may be used by either expert or amateur swimmers. When used by amateurs or as a matter-of-fact when used by fiZ'IOfGSSlODfilS should they find themselves ex austed, the skirt portion is folded over the body of the swimmer and after the chamber 4 1s inflated as above described, the said chamber will be arranged around the chest and below the armpits of the. bather. The suit is constructed of very stron but extremely light material and may be fo ded into a neat convenientl carried w en not in use.

package that may be Having escribed the invention, I clainiz 1. A bathing suit of rubberized silk or cotton stockinettehaving an'outer facing of rubber includin a body portion provided with trunks and an integrally formed skirt at the waist of the body portion that normally conceals the trunks, said skirt having its outer edge rounded upon itself and oemented to the inner face of the skirt roper to provide a tubular inflatable cham r, a tube secured to and extending from the chamber and a rubber strap having its ends secured to the outer face of the chamber through which the tube is designed to be passed after the chamber has been inflated, and whereby the inflation of the said chamber will cause the stretching of the strap to permit of the latter firmly' compressing the tube against the chamber to prevent the passage of air through said tube.

2. A bathing suit of rubberized silk or cotton stockinette having an outer facing of rubber including a body portion provided with trunks and an integrally formed skirt at the waist of the body portion that normally conceals the trunks, said skirt having its outer edge rounded upon itself and cemented to the inner face of the skirt proper to provide a tubular inflatable chamber, and

the outer wall of the chamber having a central opening therethrough, a flexible tube received through the opening and having an inner outwardly extending flanged portion which is cemented to the inner Wall of the outer face of the chamber, an elastic strap having its ends secured to the outer face of the chamber above the opening throu h which the tube passes and designed to ie expanded by the chamber when the latter is inflated and being also designed to receive the tube therethrough when the latter is folded to compress the said tube against the chamber to prevent passage of air through said tube, and an ornamental figure pass-' ing through the said strap. In testimony whereof I ture.

afiix my signa- HERBERT J. KNAPP. 

